Find Academic Supervisors

• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Mitochondrial Genetics
• Genetic Disorders
• +3 more

Dr. Michael Keogh is a Researcher at Newcastle University, contributing to neurogenetic and mitochondrial disease research. His work focuses on genetic mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases, mitochondrial dysfunction, and brain iron accumulation. He has collaborated extensively with experts in neurology and genetics, publishing widely on topics such as Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, and genetic variants linked to neurological disorders. His research interests include understanding the role of genetic mutations (e.g., PLCG2, STXBP1, SCP2) in disease etiology, mitochondrial DNA variations, and the molecular pathways driving neurodegeneration. Recent studies have explored hereditary ferritinopathies, oligogenic genetic interactions, and the clinical implications of exome sequencing in undiagnosed ataxias. Dr. Keogh’s publications highlight a focus on translational research, including the development of diagnostic tools like the SVI variant interpretation system. His work bridges basic science and clinical applications, contributing to both mechanistic understanding and potential therapeutic avenues in neurodegenerative diseases.

• Ecophysiology of marine primary producers
• Photosynthesis physiology
• Biogeochemistry
• +4 more

Dr. Sebastian Rokitta is a Senior Scientist at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) within the Marine Biogeosciences department. His research focuses on the ecophysiology of marine primary producers, particularly phytoplankton, exploring their responses to environmental stressors like temperature, light, and ocean acidification. He leads investigations into carbon metabolism, transcriptomic responses, and gene regulation in Arctic and global ocean systems. Key projects include the MOSAiC expedition, studying Arctic ecosystems, and examining how phytoplankton adapt to climate change. His work bridges cellular physiology with ecosystem modeling, contributing to digital twin frameworks for ocean ecosystems. Collaborations span international polar research and interdisciplinary teams analyzing biogeochemical cycles. Rokitta’s lab employs advanced microscopy, metabolic profiling, and genomic tools to dissect stress responses in microalgae. His research addresses critical gaps in understanding how phytoplankton mediate carbon fluxes and adapt to changing ocean conditions, with implications for global climate models and marine resource management.

Laurel FogartyView profile

Researcher

• Cultural Evolution
• Evolutionary Anthropology
• Theoretical Biology
• +3 more

Laurel Fogarty is a Senior Scientist and Group Leader of the Theory in Cultural Evolution (TICE) Lab at the Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture within the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. Her research focuses on theoretical biology, particularly non-genetic and cultural inheritance, and their interplay with genetic evolution. She examines demographic factors like population size and age structure to understand cultural accumulation and gene-culture coevolution in human history. Education: She holds a PhD in Mathematical and Computational Models of Cultural Evolution from the University of St. Andrews (2012), advised by Prof. Kevin N. Laland and Dr. Luke Rendell. She also earned a BSc in Biology and Theoretical Physics from NUI Maynooth (2008). Postdoctoral positions included roles at Stanford University, Indiana University, and University College London. Research Interests: Fogarty’s work explores cultural evolution dynamics, including cultural linkage, migration effects, and fitness landscapes. She develops analytical and simulation models to study topics like social learning, memory, and demographic influences on cultural transmission. Her lab collaborates on projects linking cognition, ecology, and cultural adaptation. Publication Trends: Her articles span evolutionary theory applied to sustainability, cultural transmission mechanisms, and demographic modeling. Key themes include cultural adaptation’s role in human behavior and interdisciplinary approaches to studying cultural and genetic coevolution. Awards: No specific awards mentioned in the provided text. Labs/Teams: Leads the TICE Lab, focusing on theoretical frameworks for cultural evolution. Collaborates with international teams on projects like cultural niche construction and gene-culture coevolution .

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Ichthyology
• +4 more

Dr. Jake Schaefer is a Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). His research focuses on the evolutionary ecology, physiology, and conservation of freshwater fishes, particularly within the Fundulus notatus species complex. His lab investigates hybridization dynamics, geomorphological impacts on fish communities, and species distribution patterns in dynamic river systems. He is affiliated with the Ichthyology Program at USM, with a laboratory website at ichthyology.usm.edu . Educational Background: PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Oklahoma (1999) MS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Oklahoma (1995) BS in Biology, Stetson University (1992) Research Interests: Dr. Schaefer’s work emphasizes understanding how environmental factors (e.g., geomorphic dynamics, habitat fragmentation) shape fish populations and communities. His studies on hybrid zones in Fundulus species reveal adaptive responses to ecological gradients and hybridization barriers. Key themes include evolutionary processes in stream fishes, conservation genetics of endangered species, and the effects of human-induced stressors on aquatic ecosystems. Publications: His recent work addresses fluvial geomorphology’s role in fish community structure, hybridization patterns in topminnows, and long-term ecological changes in geomorphically dynamic watersheds. This research highlights the interplay between biotic and abiotic factors in freshwater ecosystems. Professional Affiliations: He is a member of the Society for the Study of Evolution, American Fisheries Society, Ecological Society of America, and Southeastern Fishes Council. Laboratory and Fieldwork: His lab operates out of Johnson Science Tower (Room 1007) and collaborates on projects involving genomic analyses, field surveys in Mississippi river systems, and conservation assessments of endangered darters. Ongoing projects investigate the impacts of climate change on stream fish metapopulations and the genetic consequences of hybridization in replicated contact zones.

• Genomics
• Genetics
• Human genome research
• +6 more

Kelly Frazer is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine. She leads a highly productive research program focused on genomics and genetics, with particular expertise in human genome analysis, stem cell genomics, and translational research. Her work bridges basic science with clinical applications, aiming to understand the genetic basis of human diseases through large-scale genomic approaches. Dr. Frazer's research interests span multiple areas of genomic medicine, with a particular focus on understanding how genetic variations influence disease susceptibility and progression. Her work leverages advanced genomic technologies including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) mapping, single-cell genomic approaches, and multi-omic integration. She has made significant contributions to understanding the genetic architecture of complex traits related to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, retinal degeneration, and other conditions, often using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models to investigate disease mechanisms. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward increasingly sophisticated genomic analyses that integrate multiple data types to pinpoint causal variants and understand their functional consequences across different tissues and developmental stages. Her work spans from basic genomic methodology development to direct clinical applications, with particular emphasis on translating genomic findings into biological insights about disease pathogenesis. She frequently employs population-based approaches to understand how genetic variation contributes to phenotypic diversity in human populations. Dr. Frazer maintains an extensive research program with numerous active NIH-funded projects, including the 'Genetic & Social Determinants of Health: Center for Admixture Science and Technology' and 'Unraveling the molecular pathology of retinal degeneration through single cell genomics.' She is a key contributor to several major research consortia including the iPSCORE Consortium and the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative, reflecting her collaborative approach to addressing complex biomedical questions.

Charleston ChiangView profile

Associate Professor

• Population Genetics
• Human Evolutionary Biology
• Genetic Epidemiology
• +3 more

Charleston Chiang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine and the Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology at the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, USC. He is also the Associate Director of the Center for Genetic Epidemiology. His research focuses on understanding how evolutionary forces like demographic history and natural selection shape genetic architecture in human populations, with a focus on diverse groups such as Native Hawaiians, Latinos, Sardinians, and Finns. Education: B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics from UCLA; Ph.D. in Genetics from Harvard University; Postdoctoral training in Population Genetics and Human Genetics at UCLA. Research Interests: Population genetics, medical genetics, evolutionary demography, and genomic studies of complex traits. He leads large-scale genomic projects to characterize population structure, signals of natural selection, and genetic risk loci in understudied populations. His lab develops computational methods for demographic inference and ancestry-specific analyses. Publications: Over 100 peer-reviewed articles, including high-impact studies in Nature Genetics , American Journal of Human Genetics , and Cell Genomics . Recent work includes polygenic score evaluation in Native Hawaiians, genealogy-based demographic frameworks, and leukemia risk loci in Latino populations. Awards: ASHG Excellence Awards, NIH/NHGRI grants, and the Keck School of Medicine Mentoring Award. Lab Team: Mentors 10+ trainees, including PhD students and postdocs working on genomic methods, population history, and disease genetics. Lab Activities: Focus on integrating evolutionary insights with medical genetics. Collaborations with global consortia like the Multiethnic Cohort and the Hispanic/Latino Anthropometry Consortium.

Arun DurvasulaView profile

Assistant Professor

• Population Genetics
• Computational Biology
• Human Evolutionary History
• +3 more

Arun Durvasula, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, affiliated with the Center for Genetic Epidemiology and Department of Population and Public Health Sciences. Education: B.S. in Biotechnology (UC Davis), PhD in Human Genetics (UCLA, 2021), Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Harvard University) Research Focus: Statistical genomics, human evolutionary history, genetic epidemiology, and context-specific genetic effects Software Development: Co-developer of PSMC+, MalAdapt, ArchIE, and ANGSD-wrapper Current Research: Developing statistical tools for gene-environment interactions, archaic introgression analysis, and demographic history reconstruction His publications highlight methodological innovations in population genetics, evolutionary insights from genomic data, and applications to human disease. Collaborations span institutions like Harvard, UC Davis, and UCLA. Funding from NIH/NIGMS supports his work on genetic variation and disease architecture. Lab members include postdoctoral researcher Chelsea Cataldo-Ramirez, graduate student Yunlu Li, and undergraduate Natalie Fortunato.

• Plant Genetics
• Genomics
• Metabolomics
• +4 more

Joost Keurentjes is an Associate Professor in the Laboratory of Genetics at the Plant Ecology and Resources Centre (PE&RC), Wageningen University. His research focuses on plant genetics, genomics, and metabolomics, particularly in Arabidopsis. He leads projects on quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, epistasis, and environmental stress responses. His work integrates genetic and genomic approaches to understand plant adaptation and complex traits. Education: No explicit educational details provided. Research Interests: Plant genetics, metabolomics, Arabidopsis biology, QTL analysis, epigenetics, and stress responses. Recent studies highlight his work on chromosome substitution mapping, glucosinolate-plant stress associations, and drought tolerance mechanisms. His projects include collaborations on genetic mapping in Brassicaceae and epigenetic regulation of metabolomes. He advises multiple PhD candidates in plant genetics and genomics. Grants & Projects: Active in funding initiatives like 'Accelerating genetic mapping in non-recombinant Brassicaceae genomes' and 'Close-up! A close-up of unresponsive guard cells of plants grown at high humidity.' Labs/Teams: Head of the Laboratory of Genetics (PE&RC), collaborating widely on plant genomics and stress biology.

• Robust Methods
• Statistical Genetics
• Multivariate Analysis
• +7 more

Asuman Turkmen is a Professor of Statistics at The Ohio State University, affiliated with the Translational Data Analytics (TDA) initiative and based at the Newark Campus. She holds a PhD from Auburn University (2008) and specializes in robust statistical methods for multivariate analysis and statistical genetics. Her research focuses on outlier detection, rare variant associations in complex diseases, and addressing missing heritability through approaches like structural variations, epigenetics, and gene-environment interactions. Her professional service includes roles such as Newark Campus Ombudsman (2022–present), judge for student research forums, and leadership in university committees (e.g., JEDI Committee, Undergraduate Committee). She co-directs the TDAI Data Science for Women Summer Camp and mentors in doctoral programs. Notably, she received the Ohio State University Newark Scholarly Achievement Award in 2015. Dr. Turkmen’s recent work emphasizes Bayesian methods for population stratification correction, X-linked variant effects, and robust statistical techniques. Her publications span Genetic Epidemiology , Annals of Human Genetics , and other top journals, reflecting her contributions to both theoretical and applied statistical genetics.

Masha van der SandeView profile

Researcher

• Tropical Forest Ecology
• Ecosystem Resilience
• Climate Change Impacts
• +3 more

Dr. Masha van der Sande is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in Forest Ecology and Forest Management . Her research focuses on understanding tropical forest resilience to disturbances such as fire, drought, and climate change. She leads projects investigating Amazon fire resilience mechanisms and coordinates the 2ndFOR network for secondary tropical forest recovery studies. Her work integrates paleoecological data (e.g., pollen and charcoal records) with modern ecological observations to analyze long-term forest dynamics. She teaches and supervises courses including Ecological Methods and MSc Internships in Forest Ecology . Key collaborations include the ERC-PANTROP project on pantropical forest succession and the ROBIN initiative exploring biodiversity's role in climate change mitigation. Her research spans spatial scales from individual species to continental-level analyses, emphasizing functional traits and community-level processes. Dr. van der Sande's expertise lies in linking historical and contemporary ecological data to predict future forest responses to global change. She has published extensively on topics like fire resilience, secondary forest recovery, and the impacts of human activities on tropical ecosystems.

• Plant Genetics
• Arabidopsis thaliana
• Seed Dormancy and Germination
• +5 more

Maarten Koornneef is a Professor and External Employee at the Laboratory of Genetics, part of Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on plant genetics, particularly using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model organism to study seed dormancy, environmental adaptation, and organellar genome effects on plant phenotypes. He has contributed extensively to understanding genetic variation in plant stress responses and metal hyperaccumulation. Key research interests include molecular mechanisms of seed germination, genetic basis of plant adaptation to environmental factors, and the role of organellar genomes in photosynthetic performance. His work integrates genomic approaches with physiological studies to unravel complex traits. Recent publications highlight advancements in understanding allelic variants driving regional adaptation, organellar genome effects on plant traits, and seed dormancy mechanisms. Koornneef has supervised multiple PhD projects addressing genetics of metal tolerance, abiotic stress responses, and photosynthetic variation. Labs/Teams: Laboratory of Genetics (Wageningen University) Grants/Projects: Leadership in projects on plant metal hyperaccumulation, genetic variation in stress responses, and Arabidopsis genetic resources development.

Jacob HeilingView profile

Assistant Professor

• Plant Reproductive Ecology
• Chemical Ecology
• Pollination Biology
• +5 more

Jacob Heiling is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Western Carolina University's College of Arts and Sciences. He joined the faculty in 2023 after postdoctoral work at Florida State University and Clemson University (2019-2023). His academic journey includes a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin (2013) and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University (2019). Education: B.S., University of Texas at Austin Ph.D., North Carolina State University Dr. Heiling's research focuses on the evolutionary ecology of floral traits and plant reproductive strategies. His work integrates field studies in southwest Colorado (San Juan and West Elk ranges, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory) and southern Appalachian Mountains with laboratory analysis to examine how floral chemistry and morphology mediate interactions with pollinators, herbivores, and the abiotic environment. Key areas include: Plant chemical ecology and defense-attraction trade-offs Species interactions across multiple trophic levels Floral strategy evolution and ecological context Thermal biology of flowers Signal detection in pollinator communities His research combines empirical work with theoretical frameworks like optimal defense theory and mutualism theory, employing techniques such as gas chromatographic mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyze floral chemistry. Teaching focuses on ecology and evolution, including courses like: General Ecology (BIOL 304) Methods in Ecology and Evolution (BIOL 375/675) Species Interactions (BIOL 493)

Pietro D'AmelioView profile

Visiting Assistant Professor

• Animal Behavior
• Social Interactions
• Vocal Communication
• +3 more

Pietro D'Amelio is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology at Reed College, affiliated with the Division of Mathematical and Natural Sciences. His research focuses on animal behavior, particularly social interactions and vocal communication in birds, using innovative technologies to quantify behaviors precisely. He has held postdoctoral positions at institutions including the Center for Functional and Evolutionary Ecology (France), the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology (South Africa), and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence (Germany). His work bridges ecology, evolution, and neurobiology, emphasizing reproducible research practices. Education: PhD in Behavioral Neurobiology from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology (Germany). Dr. D'Amelio's research explores how vocal communication and social behaviors in birds mirror human patterns, with a focus on cooperative breeding, reproductive strategies, and the impacts of environmental factors like light pollution and climate. His studies often integrate molecular, behavioral, and ecological data to uncover complex biological mechanisms. His recent work highlights variability in breeding phenology, the effects of artificial light on circadian rhythms, and the role of analytical decisions in ecological conclusions. These studies underscore methodological rigor and interdisciplinary approaches. Awards: None explicitly mentioned in available texts. Grants & Advising: No specific grants or advising roles listed, though his teaching emphasizes hands-on field and lab research experiences for students. Labs/Teams: Collaborations include the Max Planck Institute networks and IRSA-CNR in Milan, focusing on avian behavior and ecological adaptations.

• Genetics
• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• +3 more

Meg Palmatier, PhD, is an Associate Staff Scientist and Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology at Yale University School of Medicine. She holds secondary appointments in the Keck Microarray Shared Resource. Her research focuses on DNA damage mechanisms, antioxidant functions, and genetic studies in neurochemistry and cancer biology. Dr. Palmatier earned her PhD in Neural Sciences from Washington University and a BA in Biology from Bryn Mawr College. Her work spans molecular mechanisms of DNA photoproduct formation, ultraviolet radiation effects on genomic regions, and population genetics of key enzymes like COMT and dopamine transporters. Recent studies investigate how neurotransmitters and hormones generate DNA lesions without light exposure, and the role of antioxidants in quenching triplet energy states. Publications highlight contributions to understanding genetic variation in COMT haplotypes linked to schizophrenia, evolutionary conservation in ADH genes, and genomic hotspots for UV-induced damage. Collaborations include work with Douglas Brash, Kenneth Kidd, and other Yale researchers. No academic awards are listed, though her extensive publication record reflects sustained research impact. She contributes to the Keck Microarray core facility supporting genomic studies across Yale.

Kathleen M. PryerView profile

Professor

• Fern and Lycophyte Evolution
• Molecular Phylogenetics
• Plant Systematics
• +4 more

Kathleen M. Pryer is a Professor of Biology at Duke University, affiliated with the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on fern and lycophyte evolution, integrating molecular, morphological, and fossil evidence. She leads projects in phylogenetics, RNA editing, and herbarium digitization, including the Pteridological Collections Consortium. Pryer has received awards such as the NSF CAREER Award and the Edgar T. Wherry Award. She co-authored over 200 publications, with recent work on fern genomics and symbiotic relationships. Her grants include funding for digitization projects and fern genome sequencing. Pryer mentors students in biodiversity and evolutionary biology, and she actively participates in outreach, including the Duke Plants website and FEMMES programs. She also oversees the Duke University Herbarium and collaborates on machine learning applications for ecological data analysis. Education: Ph.D., Duke University, 1995 M.S., University of Guelph (Canada), 1981 B.S., McGill University (Canada), 1976 Research Interests: Fern systematics, molecular evolution, polyploidy, and biodiversity informatics. Key topics include RNA editing in plastomes, phylogenetic classification of cheilanthoid ferns, and the PteridoPortal database. Her work bridges traditional botany with cutting-edge genomic and computational methods. Awards & Honors: National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2004–2010) Edgar T. Wherry Award (1988) Outstanding Faculty Award (2013) Over 20 grants from NSF, National Geographic, and other institutions Grants & Funding: Includes digitization projects, phylogenetic research, and genome sequencing initiatives. Recent grants focus on fern diversity and climate change impacts. Labs & Teams: Directs the Pryer Lab at Duke, collaborating on fern genomics and herbarium digitization. Engages in interdisciplinary work with computer science and entomology.